Photo owned by Robert FW Whitlock (cc)

Last night I was in Herbert Street off Dublin’s Baggot Street waiting on a lift. I spotted a unmarked Garda car coming out of Herbert Lane and remarked to the person with me that it was a Garda car. They appeared to be looking for someone. The car headed out to Baggot St. and about one minute later reappeared in Herbert Street this time chasing a car. They were headed down towards the Pepper Canister Church and after a bit of screeching the car being chased was stopped.

There was a lot of shouting, two men were ordered out of the car and told to lie on the ground. They were told to drop the keys. (Memories of the Sweeney were being evoked!)

It took a bit of persuasion. (Also known as a lot of shouting and something being pointed at the men at the ground.) The Gardai were wearing protective vests. Then the sirens really started ringing out around the South City Centre and 4 other Garda patrol cars and 2 unmarked arrived at speed. In fact I got the impression they were a bit sorry that the first car had stopped the suspects. I was kicking myself I didn’t have a camera. Herbert Street is very quiet with little residential accomodation – a few people came out of the houses and offices around to witness the incident.

The car being chased was briefly checked, the suspects put in a Garda car and everyone left with a Garda driving away the suspects car, which we noted had a Northern reg.

All very exciting and something to tell the mates who missed it. However today what has me wondering is the fact that there is nothing about this at all in the mainstream media? Ok so no member of the mainstream media witnessed the event – and that doesn’t mean they didn’t know about given that Paul Reynolds et al get told about stuff before it happens these days. But 7 Garda Cars chasing someone and we hear nothing? Maybe it’s normal and I live a sheltered life (in the North Inner City with the Garda helicopter over head every weekend and gangland murders once in a while). But how much Garda activity goes unnoticed and unreported these days?